Teased at Sea Otter, the new Ari Suncrest road bike debuts with a frame as light as 656g for a size small with the raw finish. Yet it’s fully modern with 35mm tire clearance, stealth routing, and a generous rider weight limit. In other words, it’s an ultralight bike that’s meant to be ridden hard.
Ari says the Suncrest rides like a great road racing bike should, with efficient power transfer and sharp handling. But the layup adds a little forgiveness, making it a “road cyclist’s road bike” that also deliver a “smooth & responsive” ride quality.
It’s also compatible with all mechanical drivetrains and SRAM AXS & Shimano Di2 electronic drivetrains. Keep it 2x or go 1x, it works either way.
One interesting feature is their road-specific, UDH-like rear derailleur hanger. In their words:
“A custom Ari Road Derailleur Hanger (ARDH) … is optimized for road rear derailleurs. In a pinch, however, a SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) can be used. With a UDH, the hanger is optimized for mountain rear derailleurs and will have sub-optimal performance with cassettes that have the largest sprocket smaller than 36 teeth. A spare ARDH can be purchased from Fezzari.”
Other key features
The bike uses a 1.5″ to 1.5″ head tube to make room for brake hoses and any shift cables to enter through the headset cap and slide next to the steerer tube for semi-stealth routing. It’s compatible with FSA’s ACR system if you want to swap out the stem and bar and go full stealth.
Geometry is “race fit” to put the rider in a low, aerodynamic, powerful pedaling position. They say the layup won’t beat you up, but it’s aggressive fit aimed at high performance riders.
A threaded BSA bottom bracket keeps things reliable and simple.
Pricing & options
Suncrest Comp – Starting at $3499 (shown)
Shimano 105 Mechanical & DT Swiss E1800 wheels
Suncrest Elite – Starting at $4499
SRAM Rival AXS (w/power meter) & DT Swiss E1800 wheels
Suncrest Pro – Starting at $5299
SRAM Force AXS & DT Swiss ER1600 wheels
Suncrest Pro Race – Starting at $5999
SRAM Force AXS & Zipp 303 S wheels
Suncrest Team Edition – Starting at $7999
SRAM RED & Zipp 303 S wheels (upgrade options include Zipp 404 Firecrest and Zipp 353 NSW)
All bikes ship with 30mm tires but fit 35mm tires. Cockpits range from house-brand alloy up to Zipp carbon, depending on price. Available now in two colors.